Alfie Barbeary, 25, has opened up about the difficult decision Bath Rugby made not to renew his contract, as he prepares to move on to Saracens next season. Having spent three and a half years with Bath, Barbeary joined the club in 2022 following the collapse of his former team, Wasps.
Bath’s head of rugby, Johann van Graan, has opted to bring in South African international Dan du Preez to fill the back-row position after Barbeary’s departure, with the decision finalized through the end of 2025.
Speaking candidly on The Good, The Bad and The Rugby podcast, Barbeary revealed the news came as a shock in December. “If I’m honest, I was gutted. I really wanted to stay, but I understand Bath is a business. I hadn’t quite pulled my weight due to injuries, so it was understandable,” he said.
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Despite the disappointment, Barbeary emphasized the strong relationship he maintains with van Graan. He also reflected on the challenges of competing for a consistent spot in a star-studded Bath squad. “There’s quality all over the back row, so rotation was constant. That made it tough to build momentum,” he explained.
Injuries disrupted his 2023-24 season further, with a hamstring tear sidelining him for six weeks early on. This limited his opportunities to showcase his form, coming mostly off the bench in key matches.
However, Barbeary’s response to the setback was remarkable. He delivered a string of outstanding performances late in the season, earning a European Player of the Year nomination and helping Bath reach the Champions Cup semi-finals before bowing out to eventual champions Bordeaux Begles.
Determined to prove himself, Barbeary chose to remain in the Gallagher Premiership rather than pursue lucrative offers in France, aiming to keep his dream of representing England alive ahead of the 2027 Rugby World Cup — a goal he’s yet to accomplish. He will fill the gap left by Tom Willis, who moved to France and ruled himself out of England contention.
Interestingly, Barbeary credited his recent form to embracing his natural playing style rather than adjusting to coaching advice. “They told me to lower my carry height, but I realized my strength is carrying the ball upright. So I went back to playing my way,” he explained.
As he prepares to close this chapter, Barbeary remains motivated by success on the field. “I wanted to leave Bath with something big—winning Europe was the dream. It didn’t happen, but I love Bath and want to go out with a bang,” he said.
Next season, Barbeary will aim to help Saracens interrupt the pattern of six different Gallagher Premiership winners in as many years, bringing his passion and resilience to his new club.